Replacement bracket jig



1941- M. s. JOHNSON REPLACEMENT BRACKET JIG.

Filed Jan. 23, was

Patented Au 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,252,511 i REPLACEMENT BRACKET JIG Malcolm S. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Illinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,432

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a jig more especially intended for use in. replacing the worn or obsolete brake hanger brackets on railroad car truck side frames, particularly. freight cars, with the present day A. A. R. design of brackets which permit the use of the continuous or closed loop type of hangers.

The object of the invention is the provision of a jig whereby the proper correct alignment of the replacement bracket is controlled and determined and whereby the replacement bracket or brackets will be firmly held in position until the bracket has been sufficiently fastened or welded in place.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a jig which will determine the horizontal alignment at both ends thereof and hence prevent the possibility of securing the replacement brackets at opposite sides of the column opening at an angle and ensuring the brackets being squared to the side frame The invention also has for its object the provision of means which enables the operation of replacing the brackets on the truck side frame to be performed by a single workman.

The above enumerated objects and the advantages of the invention will all be readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a partial plan and horizontal sectional view of a portion of a car truck side frame with my improved jig applied with one end shown holding a replacement bracket in position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 with one end of the jig in section, while the other end is shown supporting a replacement bracket; portions of the side frame column being brokenaway.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the stop or gage members. v

My improved jig is especially intended for use in rehabilitating railroadcar truck side frames through the replacement of worn or old style closed brackets with the present day A. A. R. de-

sign of bracket and thus obviating the necessity and great expense of discarding the entire side frame.

Brake hanger brackets cast integral with the truck side frames as heretofore employed were generally of the closed barrel type consisting, of

apertured lugs which merely permitted the use of the old U-type of brake hanger held in place by a suitable pin; a type of bracket with which the now more generally used continuous link hanger could not be employed.

- The old closed barrel type of bracket does not lend itself to the use of wear take-up means, now generally employed with the open jaw type of bracket, whereby the upper end of the continuouslink hanger is pendently secured in place and the bracket relieved of wear which resulted from the constant vibration and swinging movement of the hanger. The closed barrel type of bracket being an integral part of the side frameand hence of softer metal than the hanger supporting pinsoon became worn to an extent that further use was unsafe and therefore prohibited-a condition obtained while the side frame in general was still' usefu1-thus entailing considerable expense in side frame replacement and loss in car service.

My improved jig isdesigned to permit replacement of the hanger brackets to be made and the proper positioning and alignment of the brackets to be ensured and in its specific embodiment as disclosed in the drawing consists of a main body portion or frame In or length slightly greater than the distance between the columns I I, II of the truck side frame and preferably provided with a flat face to fit against the columns, while the outer face of the frame I0 is shown provided with a longitudinal stiffening rib at I2.

The ends of the frame ID are disposed laterally or substantially at right anglesto the main body portion as shown at I3, I3, and these ends in turn are each provided with a laterally disposed bracket supporting arm or extension I4, arranged at a slightly upward inclination as more clearly shown in Figure 2; each supporting arm or extension adjacent its outer end being provided with a bolt or pin receiving opening I5. The ends l3 slope downwardly from the main body and it will be understood that both ends I3 and their extensions I4 are identical in construction and arrangement and that the extensions I 4 at opposite ends are disposed in opposite directions, namely outwardly.

The main body or frame IE), on its inner plain side and at the ends, is provided with stops or gage members I6, I6 bolted or otherwise immovably secured in place. These stops or gage members are of the construction more clearly shown 1n Figure 3, consisting of the web portion Il shown provided with a number of bolt receiving holes I8 spaced apartvertically and the web Il,

along one longitudinal side, terminates in the laterally disposed truck side frame column engaging portion or flange I9. The portions or vertically disposed flanges I9 of the two members I6, I6 are adapted to engage the inner or opposing sides of the columns II, II at opposite sides of the bolster and spring plank opening in the truck side frame and properly positions the jig, providing long bearings against the sides of the columns to prevent any possibility of the jig tipping, especially while supporting the comparatively heavy brake hanger brackets.

The upper ends of the gage members l6 are provided with outwardly extending and horizontally disposed lips which are adapted to engage beneath the top member 2| of the side frame to properly space the jig from the top of the bolster and spring plank opening in the side frame and hence to properly space the bracket holding arms or extensions I 4 from the lugs 22 on the side frame.

In rehabilitating the side frame with present day types of hanger brackets, the old brackets are burned off or cut away so as to leave the projecting lugs 22, as shown for example in Figures 1 and 2, and thus provide proper support for the new bracket, shown at 23, and also permit proper welding of the new bracket in place.

The new brackets are each provided with an arm 24 which is preferably made arcuate to match the upper surface of the lug 22 and to permit the arm 24 to be arranged in overlapping relation with the lug while the immediate end of the arm is preferably arranged in close proximity to the side frame member 2|.

The brackets 23 have a vertical wall portion provided withthe laterally extending and vertically spaced jaws 25, 25 to provide a hanger and hanger retainer receiving pocket whereby the brake hangers are pendently supported in place; the retainers with the hanger are held in the pocket by suitable means, such as the re taining bolt 26 which passes through registering holes in the upper and lower jaws 25.

During application of the new brackets to the side frame, the brackets are held in position on the arms or extensions [4 by the bolt 26 which is disposed through the hole I5 in each arm H! as shown to the right in Figure 2.

In order to take care of slight variations in truck side frames, I prefer to make the gage members l6 separate from the body of the jig and to drill the bolt receiving holes l3 at points in keeping with the particular style of truck side frame; it being understood that the main body 12 of the jig at each end is likewise provided with bolt receiving holes I8 to permit the gage members Hi to be securely fastened in place against any movement as shown by the bolts 21.

The jig is secured to the truck side frame by means of the two hooks 2B, 28 which slide freely through openings in the hub portions 29 in the ends l3 and through registering holes in the body portion of the jig. The hook members are of length commensurate with the thickness of the side frames so that the hook ends of the members 28 may engage the opposite sides of the side frame columns as shown in Figure 1 and the outer ends of the hook members 28 are threaded and provided with hand wheels or nuts 30 adapted to bear against the hub portions 29 of the jig and to draw the hook-ends of members 28 in firm holding relation with the side frame columns ll thereby firmly clamping the jig in place.

In practice, the jig with the properly positioned gage members I6 is applied to the side of the truck side frame,after the obsolete or worn brake hanger brackets have beencut away,

-with the gage members [6 disposed against the vertical sides of the columns II, within the spring plank opening, and the lips 20 of the gage members contacting the lower surface of the top or compression member 2| of the side frame; the jig being firmly clamped in position by screwing the hand wheels 30 against the hub portions 29 until the hook elements 28 are in firm holding engagement with the opposite side of the side frame.

The old brackets, as previously stated, are cut or burned away with an acetylene torch approximately three inches from the center line of the bracket so as to leave the portion as shown at 22 to which the new bracket may be welded.

The jig is then provided with the new brackets which are placed on the arms or extensions I 4 and held in position by the bolts 26 which extend through the brackets and the openings I5 in the arms l4 and held against movement by screwing up of the bolt-nut 3|. The new replacement brackets are thus positioned in keeping with the standard A. A. R. location requirement and thus obviates the necessity of the use of several different designs and lengths of hangers as has heretofore been the case. My improved jig controls the correct alignment of the replacement brackets; their location being gaged from the sideframe column opening, while variation in the side frame column opening in relation to the brackets is taken care of by the previously positioned stop gage elements; while the elongated body portion ID of the jig, extending from column to column determines the horizontal alignment of both ends and prevents the possibility of getting the brackets at an angle and the inclining arms I4 ensures the brackets to be applied with a slight inclination, as shown to the right in Figure 2, so as to obviate strains on the hanger retainers and bolts or pins. The replacement brackets are then tack welded and the jig removed, permitting the welding to be completed around the exposed juncture between the lugs or stub portions 22 of the old brackets and the replacement bracket arms 24.

With the bracket holding arms l4 extending laterally from the lower longitudinal edges of the ends l3, stops or shoulders 32 are formed and the outer ends of the arms M are also preferably provided with the shoulders or lips 33 which, in conjunction with the shoulders 32, will properly position the replacement hanger brackets 23 on the arms M, as shown at the right in Figure 2.

The gage elements [6 are preferably secured by a plurality of bolts 2'! so as to rigidly hold said elements against any possible movement after their position relative to a particular side-frame has been determined.

The structure as illustrated in the drawing is believed to be the best embodiment of the invention which has been described in terms employed for purposes of description and not as terms of limitation, as structural modifications may be possible without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a body portion adapted to be applied to a side of a railroad car truck side-frame so as to extend across the bolster and spring plank opening in the side-frame, the ends of said body portion being disposed at substantially right angles and terminating in oppositely disposed bracket supporting extensions; gage elements arranged on the inner face of the body portion adjacent the ends adapted to engage the inner vertical faces of the side-frame columns and the lower face of the top compression member of the side-frame to position the body portion; and means whereby the body portion may be clamped to the sideframe.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated body portion provided with a fiat face adapted to be applied to the vertical sides of the columns at opposite sides of the bolster and spring plank opening in a railroad car truck side-frame, the ends of said body portion being disposed laterally therefrom and each terminating in oppositely extending bracket holding extensions; vertically disposed gage elements arranged on the flat face of the body portion adjacent the ends and adapted to engage the inner vertical sides of the side-frame columns and the lower face of the top compression member of the side-frame; and regulable clamping means loosely mounted in the body portion adapted to effect hook elements for moving the latter into clamping engagement with the truck side-frame.

6. A device of the character described comprising a body portion adapted to fit against a side of a railroad car truck side-frame and having apertures adjacent its ends, the ends of the body portion being disposed outwardly, the inner sides of the ends being provided with apertured hub-portions, while the outer sides of said ends are provided with laterally disposed hanger bracket supporting extensions; vertically disposed gage elements secured to the inner side of the body portion so as to extend thereabove, said elements being adapted to engage the opposing vertical sides of the side-frame columns on opposite sides of the bolster opening in the sideframe; hook elements slidably mounted in the apertures of the body portion and said hub portions and adapted to extend through the bolster opening in the side-frame; and regulable means on the outer ends of said hook elements whereby the body portion and the inner ends of the hook elements are forced into clamping engagement with the sideframe.

7. A device of the character described comprising an elongated body portion adapted to fit against a side of a railroad car truck side-frame of the side-frame; and means whereby the body portion may be secured to the side-frame.

i. A device of the character described comprising an elongated body portion adapted to fit against one side of a railroad car truck sideframe and to extend across the bolster opening in the side-frame; bracket holding portions arranged at the ends of the body portion and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions with the bracket holding ends of said portions disposed substantially parallel with the body portion; vertically disposed gage elements arranged on the inner face of said body portion adjacent the ends and extending above said body portion; and regulable means whereby the body portion may be secured to the side-frame.

5. A device of the character described comprising an elongated body portion adapted. to fit against one side of a railroad car truck sideframe and to extend across the bolster opening in the side-frame; angular portions at the ends of the body portion provided with bracket holding ends disposed in opposite directions and extending substantially parallel with the body portion; vertically arranged gage elements on the inner face of said body portion adjacent the ends provided with side-frame engaging surfaces; slidably mounted hook elements adapted to extend through the bolster opening in the truck side-frame; and regulable means on said and to straddle the columns at opposite sides of the bolster opening in the side-frame, the ends of said body portion being disposed toward the outer side of said body portion and terminating in laterally extending and upwardly inclining hanger bracket holding extensions provided with bolt receiving apertures; vertically disposed gage elements removably secured tothe inner face of said body portion; and hook elements slidably mounted in the body portion and in said ends whereby the device may be clamped to the truck side-frame.

8. In a device of the character described comprising an elongated main body portion provided with a vertical face adapted to fit against the outer side of a railroad car truck side frame across the bolster opening therein, the ends of the body portion being provided with laterally disposed hanger bracket holding portions; vertically disposed gage means secured to said body portion adjacent the hanger bracket holding portions and adapted to extend into the bolster opening in bearing relation with the side faces of the vertical columns of the side frame and the top of the side frame whereby the position of the device relative to the bolster opening column and top of the side frame adjacent the bolster opening is determined; and regulable means mounted in said body portion adjacent the gage means adapted to extend through the bolster opening and to engage the inner sides of the vertical columns of the side frame whereby the side frame is clamped between said means and said main body portion.

MALCOLM S. JOHNSON. 

